All About LUZIA?

You’ve heard the hype. Now, it’s time for you to discover what LUZIA is about. In this article, we’ll guide you through the imaginary realm of LUZIA, a production dubbed a “waking dream” and illusory vision of Mexican culture. Grab our hands, let your imagination unfold, and join us as we’re whisked away to the dreamy world of LUZIA.

LUZIA is Cirque du Soleil’s 38^th show. Its name is a portmanteau of the words luz (light) and lluvia (rain). In this production, rain plays a pivotal role. It’s also the first time a Cirque du Soleil production features the element below the Big Top.

For audiences, LUZIA feels a bit like lucid dreaming. Co-written and directed by the enormously talented Daniele Finzi Pasca, the vision and inspiration behind LUZIA were to piece together a production that unites the beauty and vibrancy of Mexican culture with Cirque du Soleil’s signature acrobatic artistry. Keep reading, and we’ll tell you all about this popular Cirque du Soleil touring production.

Themes and Story of Luzia

First, let’s look at some of the main topics and themes covered in the Cirque du Soleil production, LUZIA.

LUZIA’s Dreamlike Exploration of Mexico’s Spirit and Traditions

Welcome to LUZIA, and welcome to a world of dreams. LUZIA is a unique production, one in which the set design, costumes, acrobatic performances and music are all heavily inspired and steeped in Mexican culture, history, and mythology.

But, because this is a Cirque du Soleil production, the version of Mexico is a little wilder than reality; bright colors, vivid characters, and surreal storytelling take everything you know about Mexico and crank things up a notch.

Throughout the show, you’ll encounter concepts like speed and superhuman effort. As we mentioned before, rain plays a big part in this production, too, and exists in various shapes and forms. The production even touches on our wild side by looking at the animal spirit living within us all.

A Waking Dream: The Symbolism of Light, Rain, and Mexican Culture

LUZIA invites you into a world that feels both familiar and extraordinary. In a realm overflowing with symbolism and infused with light and rain, you can feel the vibrancy of the culture. Just as we mentioned earlier, rain plays a central role in this enchanting universe, where dreams and reality are one and the same.

Rain is cleansing. Rain is healing. Rain is nurturing. The rain in LUZIA’s Mexico is all of that and symbolically opens new possibilities for the cast and creators. The way the performers in this production interact with the rain is unique.

Other recurring motifs include the notion of monumentality. Visitors to Mexico may experience a sense of light-headedness and love upon taking in the country’s beautiful landscape, forests, and nature. Its culture and architectural wonders have a way of enchanting folks, too.

The theme of speed is present in LUZIA, too. Just take the ability of the Tarahumaras, an Indigenous people of Mexico, who make seemingly superhuman efforts a daily occurrence, drawing strength from their spiritual practices and perspectives.

Rain, and its symbolism, matters in Mexican culture. There are as many types of rain as there are clouds that produce it in Mexico. Coyoacán, a neighborhood in Mexico City, is known for its frequent rainfalls during rainy season.

Then there’s the torrential downpours that sweep across Baja California. Autumn rains are a common occurrence in Mexico. In short, rain is a natural—and narrative—force.

Lastly, a surreal menagerie and poetic vision of reality is both a fixture and fascination in Mexico.

The animal world is steeped in the country’s traditions and mythologies. This stems from a poetic vision of reality, evident when you look at the Mesoamerican concept of the nagual, which finds that animal spirits live inside every human being. It’s said that this spirit protects an individual throughout their lives.

The Characters and Iconic Figures of LUZIA

The characters and iconic figures of LUZIA are symbolic representations of animals, myths, and Mexican heritage. Here are the main enigmatic characters you’ll meet throughout the show.

• The Traveler: When we first meet The Traveler, one can say he shows up in style and makes his presence known. He arrives on stage heralded by the sound of a plane flying overhead. He parachutes into a bed of Cempasuchil flowers (yellow marigolds), and from there, his adventure begins.

• The Running Woman: A tribute to the annual monarch butterfly migration from southern Canada to central Mexico, the Running Woman runs alongside a metallic horse. Together, the two greet the Traveler and show him this imaginary, vibrant Mexico.

Throughout the show, you’ll meet an eclectic cast of characters and creatures sure to make your stay in this imaginary Mexico worth your while.

Signature Acts and Performances in LUZIA

LUZIA, like all Cirque du Soleil productions, is jam-packed with mesmerizing signature acts and performances. Keep reading as we take a closer look at some of what you can expect to see.

Spectacular Acrobatic Acts Inspired by Mexican Culture

In LUZIA, light quenches the spirit and rain soothes the soul, a veritable tribute to Mexican culture told through a mosaic of acrobatic circus acts.

• Hoop diving on treadmills: Paying tribute to agility and speed, the hoop diving act finds eight acrobats donning prismatic hummingbird costumes as they leap through just 30 inches wide. If that weren’t enough, these performers are walking on treadmills, marking the first time in Cirque du Soleil’s history that this innovative twist has been performed. Sometimes, they jump feet first, sometimes they back flip, and sometimes they leapfrog over partners.

• Adagio: The Adagio act sees our acrobats performing intricate flips. Porters fling acrobats into the air, sometimes holding them by their hands and feet, creating the effect that can only best be described as a human skipping rope.

• Cyr wheel and trapeze: In this act, two young women dance side-by-side wearing large hoops. They are then joined by a trapeze artist who performs a series of original figures. All this happens under misty rain.

• Hand balancing: In a nod to Mexican cinema of the 1920s, the hand balancing act finds a lifeguard strutting on a buoy among waves. He then builds two rows of canes atop the buoy. All under the watchful eye of an enthusiastic film director, the lifeguard holds a series of poses, sometimes balancing on one hand, or doing push-ups, showcasing impressive strength.

• Football dance: Football (or soccer) is Mexico’s most popular sport. The football dance pays homage to the beautiful game. In this scene, two men perform a series of football tricks using their head and feet. The ball bounces, rolls, and spins.

• Masts and poles: The hallucinogenic, dreamlike masts and poles sequences finds acrobats climbing up and down vertical poles, leaping from one to the other. This hazy act feels reminiscent of a peyote trip.

• Aerial straps: An artist representing a demigod emerges from a cenote, wowing audiences with a graceful aerial straps act. In this crowd-pleasing act, the artist encounters a life size jaguar, creating a beautiful connection with this mythological figure of Mexican culture.

• Contortion: Performed by world-famous Aleksei Goloborodko, the contortionist act is steeped in a dream-like aura. Surrounded by glowing candles, Aleksei twists and bends his body into knots and unimaginable positions. Astonishingly, he even manages to touch the back of his head with his pelvis!

READ ALSO: Check out our interview with Aleksei and learn more about his career in the circus and the journey that led him to where he is today.

• Swing to Swing: Under a luminous red moon, artists perform a stunning Russian swing act. A first in a Cirque du Soleil show, the two swings are mounted on a turntable so that the audience can enjoy the performance from all angles. The pushers demonstrate impeccable timing by flinging their partners up to 10 meters (33 feet) in the air.

Artistic Elements of LUZIA

Innovations in Costume, Set Design, and Water Effects

Did you know that over 1,000 pieces of costume are used during the show and (nearly) 140 pairs of shoes grace the LUZIA stage every night? And, because many artists perform under the rain showers, special types of soles had to be designed for shoes to prevent them from slipping and sliding around on stage.

While it’s easy to associate the colors of Mexico with brighter shades, in LUZIA, the choices were deliberately subtle. Instead, each scene has its own “color theme,” which becomes obvious as the events unfold.

Another recurring motif is that of animals. Throughout the production, you’ll be delighted by the countless animal-clad performers: a man with the head of an armadillo, swordfish, iguana, a crocodile playing the Marimba, or a woman with a hummingbird’s head and wings are all common in the world of LUZIA.

But maybe one of the most breathtaking costumes is the floral dress, an exquisite design that was the result of around-the-clock research and development. The floral-laden gown is striking on its own. Roughly 61 flowers adorn its beautiful skirt, individually programmed with white flowers that boast a tiny motor inside.

Slowly, but surely, as the flowers’ petals start to bloom, they reveal a vibrant red inside. Such is the act of metamorphosis, a theme woven throughout the production.

How LUZIA’s Design Captures the Essence of Mexico

All these costumes would be stunning on their own. Woven into the story of LUZIA, however, they tell a deeper story; one that pays homage to old Mexican cinema, the natural elements, and beyond.

Costume designer Giovanna Buzzi opted to steer clear of the folkloric aspects of Mexico and Mexican culture. Wanting to avoid clichés, she and the show creators chose to concoct a story in which every scene would have its own color. So, while the show is indeed impressively colorful, it’s less intentional or clichéd.

Music and Soundscapes of LUZIA

The music of LUZIA is more than just a melodic backdrop; Composer Simon Carpentier’s score is a rich soundscape that’s transportive and unique, instantly leaving audiences believe they are in the heart of Mexico.

The score blends Latin Rhythms and modern musical elements that make it a one-of-a-kind and unique Cirque du Soleil experience.

The Sounds of Mexico: Music and Atmosphere in Luzia

In Mexico, music is considered an extension of the soul. That notion is what inspired the musical team to compose such an electrifying score.

The music of LUZIA is steeped in this rich mixture – an amalgam of ancient and modern sounds infused with the brassy notes of tubas and trumpets and the suave melodies of the Spanish guitar, all driven forward by the relentless percussion and drums.

In Latin American music, the voice is a powerful instrument, acting as a vector of emotion, flavors and rhythms bolstered by a lively, expressive language. In LUZIA, the vocal parts blend tradition with modernity, with hints of opera, to spread the strong Latin American vibe.

Simon Carpentier’s Fusion of Latin Rhythms and Modern Elements

In assembling the music for LUZIA, composer Simon Carpentier wanted to incorporate elements of Latin Rhythm with modern touches. The result is a rich musical score that takes the audience on a journey to an imaginary vision of Mexico.

The sound fuses lively beats with distinct Latin American sounds, jumping from style to style and rhythm to rhythm. Like life itself, the soundtrack travels across various landscapes and captures the different moods of the production.

True to the spirit of the production, the score was composed to transcend clichés and common stereotypes. That’s why you’ll hear a tapestry of musical influences, each more unexpected than the last.

Lively beats of cumbia, a music genre that sounds similar to salsa, characterized by guitars, accordions, and percussion, but also by the spirited sounds of bandas, traditional traveling brass bands.

For the score, Simon also drew inspiration from the energetic rhythms of norteño, a beloved style in Northern Mexico, and the flamenco-infused melodies of huapango, rooted in the La Huasteca region along the Gulf of Mexico.

Years after the release of the official soundtrack, the band went back to the proverbial recording booth and bottled musical magic in a new live album. Sébastien Laurendeau, Band Leader on LUZIA, worked with his musicians to create a live recording of the show, faithful to the way people hear it under the Big Top.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at LUZIA

What goes into bringing a show like LUZIA to life? A lot, as it turns out. More than 120 different people, including 47 artists, in different roles work hard behind the scenes to make the magic happen every night, from electricians, IT specialists, plumbers, and supervisors.

Take a peek at the behind-the-scenes webseries LUZIAself on YouTube to learn all about the show’s creation, the artists’ training and how they became a worldwide phenomenon.

Creating Luzia: Insights from Director Daniele Finzi Pasca and the Creative Team

Director Daniele Finzi Pasca previously served as Creative Director of Corteo. He wrote and directed LUZIA, envisioning an imaginative Mexican realm, borrowing elements of the real country and steeping them in mysticism.

“The language of acrobatics is a language that allows the exacerbation of [ideas] because everything is surreal,” he said about the production. “We don’t need to tell something concrete.”

Though the production draws heavily from Mexican cinema, and even some from some members of the creative team, such as Set and Props Designer Eugenio Caballero’s own cinema background, things take on a whole new meaning under the Big Top. It’s like speaking an evocative language using the human form.

Technical Challenges: The Rain Curtain, Set Rotation, and Water Management

So, about that indoor rain.

LUZIA marks the first time in Cirque du Soleil history the element of rain appears under the Big Top. But how can one make it rain…indoors? With a water curtain, of course!

This spectacle of engineering is made possible by a 10,000-litre (2641-gallon) water system beneath the stage floor. Some 46 feet above the stage in the rafters, 174 individually controlled nozzles open and close nearly 200 times per second, creating the amazing images and patterns seen throughout the show.

To bring this water curtain to life, over 10,000 liters of recycled water are used. The stage floor is perforated with almost 95,000 tiny holes that allow the water to drain into a basin hidden by the stage.

Bringing Mexico to Life: Set Design Mastery in LUZIA

It’s more than the water curtain. The other elements of the stage design in LUZIA are sure to astound in equal measure. Take the Great Disk, for example. A symbol of the bright sun and the Aztec calendar, this disk weighs almost 4,500 lbs.

The Field of Cempasuchil is yet another feat of stage design in LUZIA. The show opens in a field of over 5,000 Cempasuchil (marigolds). These flowers are the main elements of Day of the Dead altars and are meaningful in Mexican culture. From the first act to curtain call, LUZIA is like experiencing a waking dream.

Planning Your Visit to LUZIA

Now that you’ve heard all about LUZIA, we bet you’re excited to see the show live for yourself. Here’s everything you need to know before the show.

How to Prepare for the Luzia Experience

While some of our shows are permanent fixtures of hotels or venues, LUZIA is a touring production, so it travels from one city to the next. Head to the official LUZIA show page to find out when LUZIA is coming to your part of the world.

Be a part of LUZIA

All the excitement and fanfare surrounding LUZIA doesn’t have to end after the show. Join the LUZIA community on Instagram or Facebook and connect with fellow Cirque du Soleil fans on social media. LUZIA is a touring experience like none other

After the show, be sure to visit the merch booth and stock up on specialty merch and wear your love for LUZIA on your sleeve.  

Now that you’ve learned more about the LUZIA experience, are you ready to witness the magic, mysticism, and enchantment for yourself? We hope to see you there, in our dreams.